US6738642B1 - Communication device and method of operating communication device - Google Patents

Communication device and method of operating communication device Download PDF

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Publication number
US6738642B1
US6738642B1 US09/546,825 US54682500A US6738642B1 US 6738642 B1 US6738642 B1 US 6738642B1 US 54682500 A US54682500 A US 54682500A US 6738642 B1 US6738642 B1 US 6738642B1
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Prior art keywords
communication device
set forth
displacement
deformable portion
operator
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English (en)
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Tadashi Tsukamoto
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Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong
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NEC Corp
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/23—Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
    • H04M1/725—Cordless telephones
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2250/00—Details of telephonic subscriber devices
    • H04M2250/22—Details of telephonic subscriber devices including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a communication device such as a cellular phone, and a method of operating a communication device.
  • a conventional cellular phone is generally designed to have keys in a front thereof Various functions of a cellular phone are assigned to the keys.
  • a user can select a desired function of a cellular phone by pushing a key associated with the desired function.
  • data can be input into a cellular phone as follows.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a first example of a cellular phone.
  • the illustrated cellular phone has number keys 81 on a front thereof Various functions are assigned to the number keys 81 .
  • a user can select a desired function of the cellular phone by pushing two or more of the number keys 81 in combination.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a second example of a cellular phone.
  • the illustrated cellular phone has an operation key 91 on a front thereof By pushing the operation key 91 at an upwardly directed arrow, what is displayed in a display screen 92 is upwardly scrolled, and by pushing the operation key 91 at a downwardly directed arrow, what is displayed in the display screen 92 is downwardly scrolled.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a third example of a cellular phone.
  • the illustrated cellular phone has an operation dial 101 at a left side of the cellular phone. By rotating the operation dial 101 , what is displayed in a display screen 102 can be scrolled.
  • the cellular phones are held by a user with fingers indicated with broken lines.
  • a user has to take his/her thumb off the cellular phone, and operate the number key 81 or the operation key 91 with his/her thumb 93 in such a manner as illustrated in FIG. 2 .
  • a user has to operate the number key 81 or the operation key 91 with the other hand (not illustrated).
  • a user is laborious in either way.
  • the operation dial 101 is positioned so that the operation dial 101 can be operated with either a thumb 103 when a user holds the cellular phone with his/her left hand or a forefinger (not illustrated) when a user holds the cellular phone with his/her right hand.
  • the operation dial 101 is designed such that it can be readily operated with a thumb 103 of a user.
  • the operation dial 101 can be readily operated with a left hand of a user, which means that the operation dial 101 is operated with some difficulty when it is operated with a right hand of a user.
  • a user is required to push the keys 81 or 91 , or rotate the operation dial 101 many times until he/she can retrieve or select a desired function. This is somewhat laborious to a user.
  • Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-220552 has suggested a switch to be used for an electronic device, comprising a portion rotatable for switching connections, a second portion fixed on a supporter, and a switch knob mounted on the second portion by means of assembly means and fastener means.
  • Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-65786 has suggested a portable radio-signal communication device including a rotary dial formed at a side of a device body.
  • the rotary dial is designed to be rotatable about a rotation shaft, and is supported such that the rotary dial together with the rotation shaft can be pushed into the device.
  • the communication device is put into a mode for inputting data thereinto.
  • a desired alphabet is selected by rotating the rotary dial. Since the rotary dial is arranged at a side of a device body, a user can operate the rotary dial with slight movement of a finger or fingers.
  • the rotary dial slightly extends beyond a side of the device body so as not to interfere with a user's face while he/she is making a call.
  • Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-28166 has suggested a method of inputting data into a cellular phone.
  • data associated with telephone numbers can be displayed at a display screen at the first and second orders by operating an operator arranged at a side of a device body. Then, data displayed at the display screen is input into the cellular phone by further operating the operator.
  • the operator includes a rotary member rotatable about a rotation axis. By rotating the rotary member in a first direction, data is displayed at the display screen at the first order, and by rotating the rotary member in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction, data is displayed at the display screen at the second order. By pushing the operator down, data displayed at the display screen is input into the cellular phone.
  • Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-8686 has suggested a telephone including a knob arranged in parallel with a display screen, a detector which detects a direction in which the knob rotates, and a controller which displays data about telephone numbers stored therein, at the display screen in accordance with results of the detection of the detector.
  • the international publication WO95/31863 has suggested a terminal communication device including a rectangular parallelopiped body having a radio-displacement detector and a radio-signal receiver, and an operator.
  • the body has a straight portion defining a side of the body, and a projecting portion outwardly projecting beyond the straight portion and formed integral with the straight portion.
  • the operator is formed at the projecting portion, and includes a single operation member movable in positive and negative directions. The operator inputs data into the radio-displacement detector and receiver, and switches operation between the radio-displacement detector and receiver.
  • the projecting portion has an arcuate surface extending beyond the side of the body.
  • the single operation member is comprised of a rotary member rotatable relative to the body.
  • a communication device including (a) a device body, (b) an operator formed with the device body, (c) a displaceable section which is displaced by the operator, (d) a displacement detector which transmits a control signal in accordance with displacement of the displaceable section, and (e) a controller which operates the communication device in accordance with the control signal.
  • the controller may be designed to select one of functions of the communication device in accordance with the control signal.
  • the communication device further includes a display screen formed with the body, in which case, the controller may change what is displayed in the display screen, in accordance with the control signal.
  • the communication device includes two operators which are formed at opposite sides of the communication device.
  • the displacement detector keeps transmitting the control signal while the displaceable section is kept displaced.
  • the displacement of the displaceable section is comprised of at least one of a degree of expansion or contraction, a degree of deformation, a degree of angular displacement, and a degree of torsion.
  • the displacement detector transmits the control signal in accordance further with a direction in which the displaceable section is displaced.
  • the communication device further includes a converter which converts the displacement of the displaceable section into electric energy.
  • the displaceable section is composed of elastic material deformable by the operator.
  • the displacement detector transmits first to N-th control signals in accordance with the displacement of the displaceable section, wherein N is an integer equal to or greater than 2, the controller operating the communication device at first to N-th rates in response to the first to N-th control signals, respectively.
  • the operator is designed to be rotatable relative to the device body and to extend beyond opposite sides of the device body.
  • the communication device includes two operators having arcuate surfaces symmetrical with each other about a center of the device body.
  • the operator includes a non-displaceable section which is not displaced by the operator, the communication device further including a deformation detector which is connected to both of the displaceable section and the non-displaceable section to thereby detect deformation of the displaceable section and transmit a detection signal in accordance with the thus detected deformation, the displacement detector transmitting the control signal in accordance with the detection signal.
  • the communication device includes two deformation detectors located horizontally symmetrical with each other about a center of the device body.
  • the communication device includes four deformation detectors located horizontally and vertically symmetrical with one another about a center of the device body.
  • the displacement detector includes a sensor having a wheatstone bridge structure.
  • the operator is formed integral with the device body.
  • a communication device including (a) a device body, (b) at least one operator having an outer arcuate surface partially extending beyond the device body, and rotatable relative to the device body, (c) a displaceable section which is displaced by the operator, (d) a displacement detector which detects displacement of the displaceable section and transmits a detection signal accordingly, and (e) a controller which operates the communication device in accordance with the detection signal.
  • the communication device further includes a supporter fixed to the device body and having an arcuate outer surface having the same curvature as a curvature of an inner arcuate surface of the operator, the supporter supporting the operator thereon for rotation.
  • the device body is formed with a cut-out having an inner arcuate surface having the same curvature as a curvature of the outer arcuate surface of the operator, the outer arcuate surface of the operator being in facing relation to the inner arcuate surface of the cut-out.
  • the displacement detector includes (a) a non-deformable portion fixed to the device body, (b) an deformable portion connecting the non-deformable portion to the operator, and (c) a deformation detecting device located across the non-deformable portion and the deformable portion for detecting a degree of deformation of the deformable portion.
  • the displacement detector further includes an auxiliary deformable portion connecting the non-deformable portion to the operator, the deformable portion connecting to the non-deformable portion at one of upper and lower edges of the non-deformable portion, the auxiliary deformable portion connecting to the non-deformable portion at the other edge of the non-deformable portion.
  • the communication device further includes a second deformation detecting device located across the non-deformable portion and the auxiliary deformable portion for detecting a degree of deformation of the auxiliary deformable portion.
  • the communication device further includes a display screen formed with the body, and wherein the controller changes what is displayed in the display screen, in accordance with the detection signal.
  • the displacement detector keeps transmitting the detection signal while the displaceable section is kept displaced.
  • the displacement detector transmits the detection signal in accordance further with a direction in which the displaceable section is displaced.
  • the displacement detector transmits first to N-th detection signals in accordance with the displacement of the displaceable section, wherein N is an integer equal to or greater than 2, the controller operates the communication device, at first to N-th rates in response to the first to N-th detection signals, respectively.
  • the displacement detector transmits first to N-th detection signals in accordance with the displacement of the displaceable section, wherein N is an integer equal to or greater than 2, the controller changes what is displayed in the display screen at first to N-th rates in response to the first to N-th detection signals, respectively.
  • the displacement detector includes a sensor having a wheatstone bridge structure.
  • the displacement detector transmits the detection signal only when the displacement of the displaceable section is equal to or greater than a threshold displacement.
  • a communication device including (a) a device body, (b) a first operator having an outer arcuate surface partially extending beyond the device body, and rotatable relative to the device body, (c) a second operator having an outer arcuate surface partially extending beyond the device body, and rotatable relative to the device body, the first and second operators being formed at opposite sides of the communication device, (d) a first displaceable section which is displaced by the first operator, (e) a second displaceable section which is displaced by the second operator, (f) a first displacement detector which detects displacement of the first displaceable section and transmits a first detection signal accordingly, (g) a second displacement detector which detects displacement of the second displaceable section and transmits a second detection signal accordingly, and (h) a controller which operates the communication device in accordance with at least one of the first and second detection signal.
  • first and second operators rotate in synchronization with each other.
  • the first operator rotates in a direction opposite to a direction in which the second operator rotates.
  • first and second operators are rotatable independently of each other.
  • the communication device further includes first and second supporters fixed to the device body and each having an arcuate outer surface having the same curvature as a curvature of an inner arcuate surface of each of the first and second operators, the first and second supporters supporting the first and second operators thereon for rotation, respectively.
  • the device body is formed with first and second cut-outs each having an inner arcuate surface having the same curvature as a curvature of the outer arcuate surface of each of the first and second operators, the outer arcuate surface of each of the first and second operators being in facing relation to the inner arcuate surface of each of the first and second cut-outs, respectively.
  • the communication device further includes a non-deformable portion fixed to the device body, the first displaceable section being connected to both the first operator and the non-deformable portion, the second displaceable section being connected to both the second operator and the non-deformable portion, the first displacement detector being located across the non-deformable portion and the first displaceable section, the second displacement detector being located across the non-deformable portion and the second displaceable section.
  • the communication further includes a first auxiliary displaceable section being connected to both the first operator and the non-deformable portion, and a second auxiliary displaceable section being connected to both the second operator and the non-deformable portion.
  • the first displaceable section is connected to the non-deformable portion at one of upper and lower edges of the non-deformable portion, and the first auxiliary displaceable section is connected to the non-deformable portion at the other edge of the non-deformable portion, and wherein the second displaceable section is connected to the non-deformable portion at one of upper and lower edges of the non-deformable portion at the opposite side to the first displaceable section, and the second auxiliary displaceable section is connected to the non-deformable portion at the other edge of the non-deformable portion at the opposite side to the first auxiliary displaceable section.
  • the communication device further includes a third displacement detector which detects displacement of the first auxiliary displaceable section and transmits a third detection signal accordingly, and a fourth displacement detector which detects displacement of the second auxiliary displaceable section and transmits a fourth detection signal accordingly.
  • the communication device further includes a display screen formed with the body, and wherein the controller changes what is displayed in the display screen, in accordance with at least one of the first and second detection signals.
  • the first and second displacement detector keep transmitting the first and second detection signals while the first and second displaceable sections are kept displaced.
  • first and second displacement detectors transmit the first and second detection signals in accordance further with directions in which the first and second displaceable sections are displaced.
  • the third and fourth displacement detectors transmit the third and fourth detection signals in accordance further with directions in which the third and fourth displaceable sections are displaced.
  • each of the first and second displacement detectors transmits first to N-th detection signals in accordance with the displacement of each of the first and second displaceable sections, respectively, wherein N is an integer equal to or greater than 2, the controller operates the communication device at first to N-th rates in response to the first to N-th detection signals, respectively.
  • each of the first and second displacement detectors transmits first to N-th detection signals in accordance with the displacement of each of the first and second displaceable sections, respectively, wherein N is an integer equal to or greater than 2, the controller changes what is displayed in the display screen, at first to N-th rates in response to the first to N-th detection signals, respectively.
  • each of the first and second displacement detectors includes a sensor having a wheatstone bridge structure.
  • each of the first and second displacement detector transmits the detection signal only when the displacement of each of the first and second displaceable sections is equal to or greater than a threshold displacement.
  • a communication device including (a) a device body, (b) at least one operator slidable relative to the device body, (c) a displaceable section which is displaced by the operator, (d) a displacement detector which detects displacement of the displaceable section and transmits a detection signal accordingly, and (e) a controller which operates the communication device in accordance with the detection signal.
  • a communication device including (a) a device body, (b) a first operator slidable relative to the device body, (c) a second operator slidable relative to the device body, the first and second operators being formed at opposite sides of the communication device, (d) a first displaceable section which is displaced by the first operator, (e) a second displaceable section which is displaced by the second operator, (f) a first displacement detector which detects displacement of the first displaceable section and transmits a first detection signal accordingly, (g) a second displacement detector which detects displacement of the second displaceable section and transmits a second detection signal accordingly, and (h) a controller which operates the communication device in accordance with at least one of the first and second detection signals.
  • first and second operators slide in synchronization with each other.
  • the first operator slides in a direction opposite to a direction in which the second operator slides.
  • first and second operators are slidable independently of each other.
  • the communication device further includes a non-deformable portion fixed to the device body, the first displaceable section being connected to both the first operator and the non-deformable portion, the second displaceable section being connected to both the second operator and the non-deformable portion, the first displacement detector being located across the non-deformable portion and the first displaceable section, the second displacement detector being located across the non-deformable portion and the second displaceable section.
  • the communication device further includes first auxiliary displaceable section being connected to both the first operator and the non-deformable portion, and second auxiliary displaceable section being connected to both the second operator and the non-deformable portion.
  • the first displaceable section is connected to the non-deformable portion at one of upper and lower edges of the non-deformable portion, and the first auxiliary displaceable section is connected to the non-deformable portion at the other edge of the non-deformable portion, and wherein the second displaceable section is connected to the non-deformable portion at one of upper and lower edges of the non-deformable portion at the opposite side to the first displaceable section, and the second auxiliary displaceable section is connected to the non-deformable portion at the other edge of the non-deformable portion at the opposite side to the first auxiliary displaceable section.
  • the communication device further includes a third displacement detector which detects displacement of the first auxiliary displaceable section and transmits a third detection signal accordingly, and a fourth displacement detector which detects displacement of the second auxiliary displaceable section and transmits a fourth detection signal accordingly.
  • the communication device further includes a display screen formed with the body, and wherein the controller changes what is displayed in the display screen, in accordance with at least one of the first and second detection signals.
  • the first and second displacement detector keep transmitting the first and second detection signals while the first and second displaceable sections are kept displaced.
  • first and second displacement detectors transmit the first and second detection signals in accordance further with directions in which the first and second displaceable sections are displaced.
  • the third and fourth displacement detectors transmit the third and fourth detection signals in accordance further with directions in which the third and fourth displaceable sections are displaced.
  • each of the first and second displacement detectors includes a sensor having a wheatstone bridge structure.
  • each of the first and second displacement detector transmits the detection signal only when the displacement of each of the first and second displaceable sections is equal to or greater than a threshold displacement.
  • a method of operating a communication device including the steps of (a) displacing a displaceable portion of the communication device, (b) transmitting a control signal in accordance with displacement of the displaceable portion, and (c) operating the communication device in accordance with the control signal.
  • control signal is kept transmitted while the displaceable portion is kept displaced.
  • displacement of the displaceable portion is comprised of at least one of a degree of expansion or contraction, a degree of deformation, a degree of angular displacement, and a degree of torsion.
  • control signal is transmitted in the step (b) in accordance further with a direction in which the displaceable portion is displaced.
  • the method further includes the step of converting the displacement of the displaceable portion into electric energy.
  • first to N-th control signals are transmitted in the step (b) in accordance with the displacement of the displaceable section, wherein N is an integer equal to or greater than 2, the communication device being operated in the step (c) at first to N-th rates in response to the first to N-th control signals, respectively.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a first example of a conventional portable radio-signal communication device.
  • FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a second example of a conventional portable radio-signal communication device.
  • FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a third example of a conventional portable radio-signal communication device.
  • FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a portable radio-signal communication device in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of the portable radio-signal communication device illustrated in FIG. 4 .
  • FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of the portable radio-signal communication device illustrated in FIG. 4 while the communication device is being operated.
  • FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a displacement detector used in the communication device illustrated in FIG. 4 .
  • FIG. 7 is a graph showing a characteristic of a displacement detector used in the communication device illustrated in FIG. 4 .
  • FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an operation of the communication device in accordance with the first embodiment.
  • FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portable radio-signal communication device in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention in operation.
  • FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of a displacement detector used in the communication device in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.
  • the first and second operators 3 a and 3 b are designed to be rotatable relative to the device body 1 .
  • first and second operators 3 a and 3 b may be designed to be rotatable independently of each other by not connecting the first and second operators 3 a and 3 b through the connecting bar 3 c.
  • the cellular phone further includes first and second supporters 2 a and 2 b located inwardly of the first and second operators 3 a and 3 b , respectively.
  • the first and second supporters 2 a and 2 b are fixed to the device body 1 .
  • Each of the first and second supporters 2 a and 2 b is designed to have an arcuate outer surface having the same curvature as a curvature of the arcuate surface of the first and second operators 3 a and 3 b .
  • the first and second supporters 2 a and 2 b can support the first and second operators 3 a and 3 b thereon for smooth rotation, respectively.
  • the first and second supporters 2 a and 2 b act as a stopper to prevent the first and second operators 3 a and 3 b from being deformed inwardly of the cellular phone.
  • the cellular phone further includes a deformation detecting unit 9 .
  • the deformation detecting unit 9 is comprised of a rectangular non-deformable body 9 A fixed to the device body 1 by means of a pin 4 , a first deformable section 6 a connected to both the first operator 3 a and the non-deformable body 9 A, and deformed by the first operator 3 a , a second deformable section 6 b connected to both the second operator 3 b and the non-deformable body 9 A, and deformed by the second operator 3 b , a first auxiliary deformable section 7 a connected to both the first operator 3 a and the non-deformable body 9 A, and deformed by the first operator 3 a , a second auxiliary deformable section 7 b connected to both the second operator 3 b and the non-deformable body 9 A, and deformed by the second operator 3 b , a first deformation detector 5 A which is located across the non-deformable body 9 A and the first deformable
  • the first and second deformable detectors 5 A and 5 B keep transmitting the first and second detection signals while the first and second deformable sections 6 a and 6 b are kept deformed.
  • the communication device may be designed to further include a third deformation detector which is located across the non-deformable body 9 A and the first auxiliary deformable section 7 a , and which afetects deformation of the first auxiliary deformable section 7 a and transmits a third detection signal accordingly, and a fourth deformation detector which is located across the non-deformable body 9 A and the second auxiliary deformable section 7 b , and which detects deformation of the second auxiliary deformable section 7 b and transmits a fourth detection signal accordingly.
  • a third deformation detector which is located across the non-deformable body 9 A and the first auxiliary deformable section 7 a , and which afetects deformation of the first auxiliary deformable section 7 a and transmits a third detection signal accordingly
  • a fourth deformation detector which is located across the non-deformable body 9 A and the second auxiliary deformable section 7 b , and which detects deformation of the second auxiliary deformable section
  • the first and second deformation detectors 5 A and 5 B are deformed in opposite directions.
  • the controller 8 could have better sensitivity than that of a controller including only one deformation detector.
  • variation ⁇ V of the output voltage VO is in proportion to a force F exerting on the controller 8 .
  • F exerting on the controller 8 For instance, if it is assumed that when an angular moment M is applied to the first and second operators 3 a and 3 b in a clockwise direction, the variation ⁇ V is positive, when an angular moment ( ⁇ M) is applied to the first and second operators 3 a and 3 b in a counterclockwise direction, the variation ⁇ V is negative.
  • FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an operation of the cellular phone in accordance with the first embodiment.
  • the first and second deformation detectors 5 A and 5 B start detecting deformation of the first and second deformable sections 6 a and 6 b in step S 2 .
  • step S 3 If the absolute value of the variation ⁇ V is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold voltage Vt (YES in step S 3 ), the controller 8 then checks whether the variation ⁇ V is positive or negative, in step S 4 .
  • step S 4 If the variation ⁇ V is positive (YES in step S 4 ), the controller 8 upwardly scrolls what is displayed in the display screen 1 A, in step S 5 .
  • the comparison between the variation ⁇ V and the threshold voltage Vth in step S 3 is carried out by the controller 8 in the first embodiment, the comparison may be carried out by a micro-processor generally equipped in a cellular phone.
  • the threshold voltage Vth is experimentally or theoretically calculated in advance, and is stored in a memory equipped in the cellular phone.
  • first and second operators 3 a and 3 b are located in symmetry with each other, a user can operate the first and second operators 3 a and 3 b with either a right or left hand.
  • each of the first and second deformation detectors 5 A and 5 B may be designed to transmit a constant detection signal.
  • they may be designed to transmit a varying detection signal.
  • each of the first and second deformation detectors 5 A and 5 B may transmit first to N-th detection signals in accordance with a degree of deformation of each of the first and second deformable sections 6 a and 6 b , respectively.
  • N is an integer equal to or greater than 2 .
  • the controller 8 changes what is displayed in the display screen 1 A at first to N-th rates in response to the first to N-th detection signals, respectively.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates an internal structure of a cellular phone in accordance with the second embodiment.
  • the cellular phone has a device body (not illustrated), and first and second operators 73 a and 73 b both designed to be slidable along opposite sides of the device body.
  • the first and second operators 73 a and 73 b are positioned such that when a user holds the cellular phone with his/her hand, his/her fingers naturally make touch with the first and second operators 73 a and 73 b.
  • the first and second operators 73 a and 73 b are located in symmetry with each other about the device body 1 .
  • the cellular phone further includes a deformation detecting unit 9 .
  • the deformation detecting unit 9 is comprised of a rectangular non-deformable body 9 A fixed to the device body by means of a pin, a first deformable section 6 a connected to both the first operator 73 a and the non-deformable body 9 A, and deformed by the first operator 73 a , a second deformable section 6 b connected to both the second operator 73 b and the non-deformable body 9 A, and deformed by the second operator 73 b , a first auxiliary deformable section 7 a connected to both the first operator 73 a and the non-deformable body 9 A, and deformed by the first operator 73 a , a second auxiliary deformable section 7 b connected to both the second operator 73 b and the non-deformable body 9 A, and deformed by the second operator 73 b , a first deformation detector 5 A which is located across the non-deformable body 9 A and
  • the first to fourth deformable detectors 5 A to 5 D keep transmitting the first to fourth detection signals while the first and second deformable sections 6 a and 6 b and the first and second auxiliary deformable sections 7 a and 7 b are kept deformed.
  • the first and second operators 3 a and 3 b are connected to each other through the deformation detecting unit 9 , the first and second deformable sections 6 a and 6 b and the first and second auxiliary deformable sections 7 a and 7 b are deformed in synchronization with each other, but in opposite directions.
  • the first deformable section 6 a is connected to the non-deformable body 9 A at a left side and at an upper edge of the non-deformable body 9 A
  • the first auxiliary deformable section 7 a is connected to the non-deformable body 9 A at a left side and at a lower edge of the non-deformable body 9 A
  • the second deformable section 6 b is connected to the non-deformable body 9 A at a right side and at an upper edge of the non-deformable body 9 A
  • the second auxiliary deformable section 7 b is connected to the non-deformable body 9 A at a right side and at a lower edge of the non-deformable body 9 A.
  • the cellular phone in accordance with the second embodiment is structurally different from the cellular phone in accordance with the first embodiment in that the first and second operators 3 a and 3 b are replaced with the first and second operators 73 a and 73 b . Since the first and second operators 73 a and 73 b are in the form of a flat plate, it is not necessary for the cellular phone in accordance with the second embodiment to have the supporters 2 a and 2 b and the cut-outs 1 ka and 1 kb.
  • the controller detects vertical displacement of the first and second operators 73 a and 73 b which is made when a force Fa is applied to the first operator 73 a .
  • first and second operators 73 a and 73 b may be designed to slide independently of each other to thereby make different displacements from each other.
  • FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram of a circuit constituted by the first to fourth deformation detectors 5 A to 5 D.
  • the illustrated circuit has a wheatstone bridge structure like the circuit illustrated in FIG. 6 .
  • the circuit can have higher sensitivity than that of the circuit illustrated in FIG. 6, and hence, can detect displacements of the first and second operators 73 a and 73 b more accurately than the circuit illustrated in FIG. 6 .
  • the variation ⁇ V of the output voltage VO is in proportion to a force F applied to the first and second operators 73 a and 73 b .
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CN1277512A (zh) 2000-12-20
GB2350430A (en) 2000-11-29
JP2000299727A (ja) 2000-10-24
GB0009035D0 (en) 2000-05-31
GB2350430B (en) 2002-01-09

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